Final Check In of 2015 Goals

I cannot believe it has already been a year since I sat down and wrote my 2015 goals. I remember writing these goals and thinking they would be a stretch but that goals one and two shouldn’t be too terrible to achieve and that goal three would be way outside my comfort zone and possibly unattainable. Well a year later, I really only completed one of the three. However, I am extremely proud of what I did this year.

2015 Goal 1: Getting to a comfortable weight (for activity/running). -I would like to put a number here but I really don’t know what that is. I am thinking it is somewhere around 140-150 pounds. However, I really don’t care for the scale, it is more about how I feel, both when I am being active and in my clothes. So this one is not a great SMART Goal because it is not very measurable but for me it is a great goal.

Goal 1 Mid-Year Update: Since January 1st I have lost 18 pounds which puts me at 156 pounds. I am feeling much better and it has improved my ability to be active. I don’t get winded as quickly and I have so much more endurance then I did before. I am down to my lowest weight as an adult and I am getting close to where I would like to stay. I am comfortable with where I am and if I don’t lose another pound I would be okay with it. However, losing a few more pounds may help me improve my running even more. But for now my focus is training for my first triathlon and the TC 10, if I lose weight during that great! If not, then I will focus on it after the races are over.

Goal 1 Three-Quarters-Year Update: I feel amazing! I am preforming wonderfully in my training and races! However, I haven’t lost any more weight or at least I don’t think I have. I haven’t stepped on a scale in almost two months because, like I mentioned in my mid-year check in, my focus was on training for the YWCA Women’s Triathlon and TC 10 Mile. They are both over now, but I moved right into training for the Monster Dash 10 Mile, which is this upcoming weekend. I am going to spend some time between now and the end of the year really thinking through how much more weight I want to lose verses gaining more strength and toning up.

Goal 1 Final Update:I want to be able to tell you I am where I was or even better then the last check in but I can’t. In fact, I am my not weigh close to what I weighed at the beginning of the year but I feel worse than I did then. This fall, I went on medication for my anxiety and I had gained about 12 pounds. I have lost four of those 12 pounds but my running has been very impacted by the weight and medication. I have struggled with my heart rate and when I ran TC 10 Mile, I finally had it at a point my coach and I were happy with it. However, due to the weight gain it is back to where I started and running is a struggle. So how do I feel about this goal? Do I feel I achieved it? No, but yes. I was there and would most likely still be there if it wasn’t for the medication. I have since went off the med and know I will get back to where I was when I was feeling amazing. I am a work in progress.

Goal 2: PR’s (Personal Records) in my races. -I would like to see myself get the following PR’s and to get them it mean I will really need to focus on cross training and being consistent with my running: 5K – 0:32:00 10K – 1:06:30 15K – 1:47:30 Half – 2:33:55

2015 Goal 2 Mid-Year Update: I haven’t hit the PR’s listed above but I did PR my half marathon time this year (2:46:41 – I cut 1 minute and 45 seconds off). I am extremely happy with the PR, but do hope to get to closer to my goal above. I have started heart rate training and I believe this should help me to achieve the PR’s I am shooting for. My new coach found that my heart rate was running too high and because I was maxing out I had no more room to get faster so I hoping this will be the solution! We will see when I check in again at the end of the year.

Goal 2 Three-Quarters-Year Update: Well this goal is not going as I had planned! Between the tendonitis and the heart rate training, I haven’t had any PR’s since the mid-year check in. However, the TC 10 went amazing and I far exceeded my expectations. I was hoping to finish in 2:07:00 and finished in 2:02:20. When I finished that race I had a lot left in the tank so I believe I probably could have really knocked down my PR for my half. I will be running the Monster Dash 10 Mile this weekend and if I finish close to my TC 10 Mile time I am going to see what that would equal if I ran a half, it is not the same but I have made progress this year and I am really happy with that!

Goal 2 Final Update: I didn’t achieve any of those PR’s… As I mentioned in the three-quarters year update, had some set back with tendonitis and heart rate training. I am not upset I didn’t achieve these specific PR goals because my running improved ten-fold this year and I have gain skills and mechanics that will help me achieve PR goals in 2016. Had I not done heart rate training, I would have no chance at all of achieving the personal records I set out to achieve. I may be struggling right now due to the weight gain but I know deep down that I can and will achieve the PR’s and that is because of all the work I put in this year.

2015 Goal 3: This is a stretch goal! Complete a duathlon and/or triathlon. -I am pretty sure I want this goal more than any of my other goals! However, I want to be realistic so that is why I am making this one a stretch goal. I need to purchase a new bike for this and that could be more money then I want to spend on something I am not sure I will love. Therefore, I need to do more research on Du’s and Tri’s but I think I will find a way to make this work!

Goal 3 Mid-Year Update: I am so excited to say that I have completed my first duathlon and am registered for my first triathlon! This was a great stretch goal because it re-introduced me to biking. I didn’t realize how much I loved biking! Training for the triathlon has been so much fun, I can’t wait until I get to compete!

Goal 3 Three-Quarters-Year Update:GOAL COMPLETE! I not only did I complete a duathlon, I completed my first triathlon! Both were super outside my comfort zone but I learned a lot about myself while training for and completing them! My next years race schedule already has a duathlon and a couple of triathlons on it, one them being an Olympic!

Goal 3 Final Update: I DID IT!!! I COMPLETED THE ONE GOAL I DIDN’T THINK WAS 100% ATTAINABLE!!!! (Sorry to yell, I am super happy about this one!) I will start training for my first 2016 triathlon next week! I bought a bike trainer so I can ride even though the Minnesota winters want to keep me off my bike. Also, I start swimming lessons next week so I can feel more confident in the water!

2015 was game time!

So, yes, I didn’t officially achieve all my 2015 goals but I really could not be more proud of myself for what I accomplished in 2015. I have learned even more about myself, I pushed myself out side my comfort zones, and got to places I never dreamed I could. 2015 was a success!

I love that you did quarterly check ups. I was doing a twitter chat and the person hosting said that you said make goals for 1-2 months periods as to not feel overwhelmed. I have a long term goal and know where I want to be a year from now but I think I am going to section those large goals into shorter stepping stone. Even if you didn’t do your goals 100% after reading your blog the past few months it’s obviously not from lack of trying. I hope you have a wonderful new year Missy

I think that is a great approach! That is how I approach my long term goals. I find, for me, I do better with long term goal and breaking them up, then having shorter goal periods. I also feel like if I don’t achieve them, I still worked hard to get there so it is still a win. Good luck with your goals! I know you will achieve them!

Awesome goals and accomplishments! I didn’t have weight loss or fitness goals last year, but this year I am focusing on eating healthier, especially finding healthier options when time is an issue (kids’ appointments, practices, etc.)

That sounds like a great goal! It will take some time and research but you can find healthy options when time is an issue. I used to think it wasn’t possible but I now know it is! Good luck, you will do wonderfully!

Congratulations on the weight loss!! And how exciting that you will be doing your first triathlon this year. I am not a runner and have difficulty with it so I would not be a good fit for a triathlon but i have a lot of respect for those who do them

Loved this post and congrats on your first duathlon and triathlon! I think the important thing to remember about goals is it’s not so much about achieving every single one but growing and improving by setting them for yourself. It seems like you’ve definitely grown as a person since last year with working towards these goals, so bravo!

Hello! My name is Missy, and I am the blogger behind Getting Fit to Find Myself. I live in the Twin Cities (Minnesota) with my fiancé, Justin, and my dog, Baylee. This blog came out of a want, I wanted a place to talk about how my fitness and weight loss journeys have helped shape who I am today. Read More…